*gasp* for those who don't know, Burning man is a huge festival which started of from very humble beginings in 1986 on Baker Beach, San Francisco with 20 people attending.

It rapidly grew and since 1991 has taken place in Black Rock Desert, nevada on the western US. coast.

Last years celebrations saw over 30,586 people attend from all over the world.

Burning man is one of the most exciting events in the entire festival calender, with live music, hundreds of fire performers from all over, art cars, naked pixies, dust storms, booze, themed villages and magic times.

Posted: 10th Sep 2004well, i went! i was admittedly late as my skin was busily pressing another's, but at great personal sacrifice i peeled myself away and got to the man and no one was there. oh well. it wasn't much into dark by the time i got there! but i had no bike yet so i had to WALK there.i have this hopper gathering karma thing i guess. there was too much wind to spin much this year, so i just carried my swords around and danced my way to a swollen ankle (old injury). i think i danced 60 hours in the last 4 days.

-Such a price the gods exact for song: to become what we sing-Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.-When the center of the storm does not move, you are in its path.

I hope that hoppers can make more of an effort for next year's gathering... If I can make it all the way from Australia, you guys can make it from elsewhere on the playa, surely?

And who wouldn't wanna meet up with Dangerboy and flash fire? huh?

HoP Posting GuidelinesIs it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned? If you can answer YES to these 4 questions then you may post a reply.

Posted: 11th Sep 2004remember those words when it is suddenly realize it is an hour past the time you were supposed to be at the HoP gathering, something too fabulous is going on right in front of you to be bothered to walk all the way over to where it is supposedly happening, and you feel like completely blowing it off since oyou are pretty damned sure no one will be there anyway!

Posted: 14th Sep 2004Right, of course, the HoP gathering. Yet another of five things I was SUPPOSED to do - on Thursday night alone - that I didn't make it to.

I did however get to meet and hang out with and spin next to the Controlled Burn crew. I heart Reno! Thank you Cody - and spread the NYC love to the rest of your group ... and your FIANCEE!!! Congratulations!

But first yet another of Cody's rants.Does any one know who the person, (a fire safety I believe) was at 2:30 the night of the burn who was yelling at my brother? Something along the lines "you lit it you spin it a$$h##le." This has me really iritated for many reasons. First, who the heck do you think you are to yell at controlled burn? Yes my ego is getting in the way right now but comeon. Ok some clarification... when we hit the audience with a fury of large fire, Dave and Chris came out spinning the testies. My brother Cory came out with the Canon staff (staff with a basketball sized fireball at each end). Bottom line, crowd went WOW. The ambient temperature around the three of them gets pretty hot, which makes the bonfire a foot away from you much less tolerable than normal. So Cory put the staff down safely and proceeded to find a safety to help put it out. It had the proper effect and he made the call to controll the situation by stopping. Right about then this person starts yelling at Cory (read above). If he was mad at Cory because he thought there was too much fire he needs to realize it was Burningman, the night of the burn at the chaos portion of the show. Time to go big. Plus in the spirit of burningman when everything and everyone was so extremely positive there was one person ruining my brothers night by being a jerk. He was lucky I didn't know what haponed untill after the burn. My brother and I are very overprotective of each other and I would have had words with this guy.

Thank you everyone at burningman who made up for the few jerks out there who had no business in the center circle.